Highlanders both tall and small took part of their day on Wednesday to celebrate Cloudland High School’s upcoming graduation.
On Wednesday morning, the soon-to-be graduates donned their caps and gowns and held a processional through the halls of Cloudland Elementary where they were greeted with cheers and happy tears.
“One of my teachers had seen the idea online and told me about it and I thought it was something we should do,” CHS Principal Lisa Benfield said.
As the younger students lined up in the hallway and waited for the seniors to begin their walk they got excited, Benfield said.
“The little ones really enjoyed it and got excited,” she said. “When the seniors first came around the corner the younger children started yelling ‘Here they come.’”
While the overall mood was happiness and excitement, Benfield said there were some tears shed as the event brought up fond memories for both the seniors and the elementary school’s teachers and staff.
The senior walk through is also something Benfield sees as being helpful for the students.
“It was good for both groups of children,” she said. “It helps the little children to see ‘Hey, that will be me one day,’ and it helps the older kids to realize ‘It wasn’t that long ago that that was me.’”
Having the seniors parade in their caps and gowns also helps to show the younger students how important it is to work hard and graduate and it impresses upon the seniors just how much the younger students look up to them as role models, Benfield said.
“I loved it,” Benfield said of the event. “It was something that I want us to continue doing.”
Benfield wanted to thank not only the staff at the high school but also the teachers and faculty at Cloudland Elementary for helping make the event such a success and for their support.
“Becky Raulston, the principal at the elementary school, was so supportive when I called her and asked if we could do this,” Benfield said.